UNC Settles Federal Probes Over Admissions and Campus Antisemitism

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reached a settlement with the Trump administration that will close 18 federal civil rights investigations and a separate Justice Department compliance review. Announced Monday, October 19, 2026, the agreement addresses allegations involving campus antisemitism and racial discrimination while preserving the university's eligibility for federal funding through the end of 2028.

According to the Justice Department and the university, the voluntary agreement requires changes to admissions policies, additional oversight of discrimination complaints, mandatory antisemitism training and restrictions on face coverings that conceal identity. UNC will not pay a monetary settlement or admit wrongdoing or liability under the agreement.

The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights will close its 18 active investigations, while the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division will end a separate 18-month compliance review that began in April 2025.

Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary of the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, described the agreement as a step toward enforcing federal protections in higher education.

"The Trump Administration is holding schools accountable for antisemitism at American universities and ensuring that institutions, which have no problem accessing generous taxpayer support, follow all federal laws and ensure safe learning environments," Richey said.

The Justice Department also said the settlement would help restore public confidence in higher education. The administration has pursued investigations of universities over allegations of antisemitism and racial discrimination.

UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said the agreement resolves federal disputes while maintaining the institution's educational mission.

"This announcement reinforces our commitment to the fair and equal treatment of everyone at Carolina," Roberts said. "For at least a decade, through different presidential administrations, U.S. universities have faced heightened public scrutiny across a range of issues. We're proud to resolve those issues at Carolina in a way that protects our mission and affirms the civil rights of everyone in our community."

The university said the agreement also preserves protections for academic freedom and institutional control over teaching. UNC maintained that the settlement recognizes measures it had already taken to comply with federal civil rights requirements.

"Protections for academic freedom and civil rights are expressly affirmed in the agreement. It makes clear that the federal government will not dictate the content of academic speech or curricula at Carolina," the university said.

Under the settlement, UNC will establish a Title VI Coordinator position and appoint a Merit & Civil Rights Administrator. Elizabeth Hall, the university's associate vice chancellor for university compliance, will fill both roles alongside her existing responsibilities, according to the agreement's reported details.

Hall will serve as the federal government's point of contact and oversee the university's reporting obligations. UNC must also submit complaints involving antisemitism and racial discrimination to the Justice Department and Education Department quarterly.

The university must provide antisemitism training to students, faculty and staff. The agreement also prohibits face coverings used to conceal an individual's identity, subject to certain exceptions, and allows disciplinary action against student groups for antisemitic discriminatory conduct.

The settlement does not specify in the reported accounts how every disputed expression or student-group activity will be classified. The agreement's implementation will determine how the university applies the requirements while maintaining the stated protections for academic freedom.

Admissions changes represent another major component. The Justice Department said UNC must adopt a race-neutral admissions system that does not use race, analyze racial data or modify admissions procedures to change the racial composition of its student body.

The agreement also restricts the use of race in admissions personnel selection and prohibits partnerships with pipeline programs that consider protected characteristics. UNC must maintain race-neutral policies for student benefits, scholarships, financial aid and programming.

However, the reported terms allow the university to consider how applicants have overcome personal adversity. Family circumstances, including poverty, may also be considered when those factors are applied consistently.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the agreement reflects federal requirements for institutions receiving government funding.

"Title VI requires that all students — regardless of their ancestry or race — receive equal treatment under the law at federally funded colleges and universities," Dhillon said.

She also argued that discriminatory policies conflict with federal civil rights obligations and commended UNC for cooperating with the government without litigation.

"Higher ed policies and practices that tolerate antisemitism or favor certain racial groups over others frustrate our color-blind justice system. The Civil Rights Division commends UNC for its cooperation in meeting its obligations under federal law without the need for litigation; we hope other institutions will take note and do the same," Dhillon said.

The settlement comes amid broader federal scrutiny of universities over campus protests, diversity initiatives and other institutional policies. UNC's agreement remains in effect through December 31, 2028, and maintains the university's eligibility for federal grants, contracts and awards, including research funding.